Ishan Kishan to Captain Sunrisers Hyderabad as Cummins Misses IPL 2026 Start

Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been appointed interim captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the early phase of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, with regular skipper Pat Cummins sidelined due to a lumbar stress injury.

Cummins, who missed Australia’s ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, is currently recovering and is expected to join the squad in Hyderabad on March 23 after receiving clearance from Cricket Australia. However, he is likely to miss at least the opening matches of the tournament.

Kishan will be supported by Abhishek Sharma, who has been named vice-captain. This marks the first time Kishan will lead an IPL franchise, stepping into a crucial leadership role just days before SRH’s opening clash against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.

Kishan enters the season in excellent form. Since returning to India’s T20I side earlier this year, he has scored 532 runs in 13 matches at an impressive strike rate of over 200. He also played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph, including a crucial half-century in the final against New Zealand national cricket team.

Having been signed by SRH for INR 11.25 crore ahead of the 2025 auction, Kishan enjoyed a strong debut season with the franchise, scoring 354 runs at a strike rate of 152.58, including a century on debut.

Cummins’ absence means IPL 2026 will begin with all ten teams led by Indian captains, a rare occurrence in the league’s history. SRH will hope Kishan’s aggressive batting and recent form translate into strong leadership as they look to make a winning start before their regular captain returns. 🏏